Observation: Snowbasin Backcountry

Region:

Ogden

Location Name or Route:

Snowbasin backcountry

Weather

Sky:

Broken

Precipitation:

Light Snowfall

Wind Direction:

Southwest

Wind Speed:

Strong

Weather Comments:

Wind was howling over Mt Ogden out of the SW, building the already large cornices above 9400'.
On the ridge to No Name, the wind was very strong out of the East, gusting to estimated 50 to 60mph, not possible to walk at times, and a hazard in its own right. It would be difficult mountaineering conditions above 9000' in wind like that.

Snow Characteristics

New Snow Depth:

4"

New Snow Density:

Medium

Snow Surface Conditions:

Powder

Wind Crust

Melt-Freeze Crust

Damp

Snow Characteristics Comments:

A mixed bag of conditions, wind hammered on the ridges, with decent soft snow in the shaded trees, 8800 to 7000 being the best.
Rollerballing became evident at 6900', even on a NE aspect in the trees, 11AM.
Getting forced over to a SE exposure on the exit, the snow became heavier, 4" of grabby glop on old crust, but still turnable on lower angle slopes. The tight trees took on a new level of hazard in these conditions, forcing slower speeds.
Around 6500' the snow really got sticky, that gluelike wet snow reminiscent of warm spring skiing. Exited at 6350'.

Red Flags

Red Flags:

Wind Loading

Cracking

Rapid Warming

Red Flags Comments:

I did not get above 9000' today. Variable winds had loaded the east, north, and particularly the west aspects from 9000' to 8000'.
Lots of cracking, 4 to 5" wind slab triggered on many test slopes.

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